All Pets' Kitchen pet foods are made using top quality natural ingredients so we can help you to keep your best friends fit and healthy. Our recipes are based on my home-cooked meals for pets, and use the same kind of simple, natural ingredients you would be happy to eat yourself, such as fresh chicken, rice and vegetables.

We never use any artificial additives such as colours and preservatives and avoid ingredients known to cause food allergies as intolerances wherever possible. All of our foods are made in the UK by the best independent producers in the country. Our dry foods are cooked in a family-run production facility on a Lincolnshire farm, and our wet foods are lovingly made in deepest Dartmoor in Devon.

Joe Inglis

Vet and chief product tester and taster!

To help you understand what goes into our foods - and other foods on the market, here is my guide to the main ingredients used in pets foods:

Beef - beef is a meat protein that is not ideal for pets as it is harder to digest and utilise than other meats such as chicken and lamb, and it can also cause dietary intolerances and allergies.

Brewer's Yeast - Dried brewer's yeast is an excellent source of B-complex vitamins and amino acids. All of my Joe & Jack's dry food contains Brewer's yeast.

Cellulose - Cellulose is a form of fibre derived from plants. It can help to stimulate the production of saliva, thus assisting the passage of hairballs.

Chicken (Fresh) - Fresh chicken is highly palatable, highly digestible and is an excellent protein source for cats and dogs. It has an extremely high biological value meaning that it is easily broken down into its constituent amino acids (the building blocks of protein) necessary for a variety of structural and metabolic functions within the body. Most fresh chicken used in pet foods is chicken viscera - so organ meat and intestines - which is highly nutritious and is exactly what dogs would eat in the wild. Using up the leftovers from chicken destined for human consumption makes this a very efficient food source for pets.

Chicken (Meal) - Like fresh chicken, chicken meal is an excellent protein source. It comprises the clean parts of the carcass ground up into a calcium-rich flour. Good quality chicken meal does not include heads, feet or feathers. Joe & Jack's Fresh Chicken and Rice dog food and Joe & Jill's Fresh Chicken and Rice cat food are both rich in fresh chicken and meal.

Chicken Fat / Oil - Chicken oil has a high and consistent level of the essential fatty acids that are necessary for a healthy skin and coat, and is considered to be one of the highest quality fat sources available. Joe & Jack's Fresh Chicken and Rice dog food and Joe & Jill's Fresh Chicken and Rice cat food both contain chicken oil or fat.

Chondroitin Sulphate - Chondroitin blocks destructive enzymes that break down cartilage in the joint. There is always a low level of these destructive enzymes in the joint, but when injury or abnormal wear occurs the enzymes multiply. Chondroitin is a safe and natural ingredient, and any excess that is not required by the body is simply excreted in the urine. Joe & Jack's natural joint snacks contain both glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints.

Corn - Corn (or maize as it is also known) is a starch carbohydrate. Ground corn is used as an energy source.

Cranberry Extract - Cranberry extract may aid in maintaining urinary tract health. It contains a sugar substance (D-mannose), which has the special ability of being able to prevent harmful bacteria from sticking to the mucosal walls. Cranberry also contains arbutin, which is effective against certain bacteria and fungi, including Candida. By limiting these harmful bacteria, conditions such as cystitis and bladder stones are less likely to affect your pet. Cranberry's antioxidant properties may also help to safeguard against the potentially harmful effects of free radicals. It also has antiviral properties.

Derivatives of vegetable origin - a vague term used to describe by-products of vegetable origin. This can include anything that has been derived from a vegetable, from charcoal to compost! Seeing this ingredient in a pet food should set alarm bells ringing as it can be used to hide all manner of unspecified ingredients.

EC permitted additives - This term covers over 4000 chemical additives that can be added to pet food without individually naming them. The list includes colours such as tartrazine and sunset yellow which have been proven to cause hyperactivity in children, and preservatives such as BHA which have been shown to have the potential to cause cancer in animals. Avoid like the plague!

Egg - Dried whole egg powder is a versatile ingredient.  The yolk is a good fat source, whilst egg whites contain the purest form of protein found in whole foods. Eggs are also a valuable source of vitamins and minerals. Joe & Jill's dry foods contain dried egg powder as a source of protein.

Fish (Fresh) - Fresh fish such as salmon is a highly nutritious and palatable protein source for cats and dogs. It usually consists of the leftovers from human-grade fish, such as viscera, which is minced into a fine paste before being added into pet food. It contains fish oils, which is high in the health promoting omega-3 very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA, often simply referred to as 'omega-3s'. Joe & Jill's fresh salmon and rice dry food is packed full of fresh fish!

Fish (Meal) - Fish meal is the dried fish ingredient used in many pet foods, and is a natural balanced feed ingredient that is high in protein, energy and minerals, vitamins and micronutrients. It contains 6 - 10% fish oil, which is high in the health promoting omega-3 very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA, often simply referred to as 'omega-3s'. All Joe & Jill's dry foods for cats contain fish meal.

Fish Oil - Fish oil is included in recipes for energy, as a source of essential fatty acids and for the transport of the fat-soluble vitamins. Fish oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. In the human health context, omega-3 prevents or reduces the chances of developing coronary heart disease. It also reduces high blood pressure, kidney disorders, inflammatory bowel disorders and autoimmune disease. The fish oil fatty acids are essential to the growth and development of unborn and newly born babies and toddlers. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and babies should include oily fish or fish oil in their diets. These health benefits are now becoming recognised in the nutrition of our canine and feline companions. All Joe & Jill's dry food contain fish oils in the form of fresh fish or fish meal.

Glucosamine Sulphate - Glucosamine provides the building blocks to synthesise new joint cartilage and together with chondroitin and MSM promotes joint mobility and longevity, and has been shown to aid conditions such as hip dysplasia and arthritis. Glucosamine is a safe and natural ingredient, and any excess that is not required by the body is simply excreted in the urine. Joe & Jack's natural joint snacks contain both glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints.

Grape Seed Extract - Grape seed extract is derived from red wine grapes. It is a source of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), which are a category of bioflavenoids. These are water soluble plant pigments that may support health by strengthening the blood capillaries and other connective tissue. Grape seed extract is an extremely powerful antioxidant, and is possibly the only antioxidant with the capacity to cross into the brain, thus improving mental alertness. (Whilst grapes in a large volume may be toxic to dogs, grape seed extract is included in pet foods at a safe level and will not have any harmful side effects.)

Green Tea Extract - Green tea extract is derived from the plant Camellia sinesis. Unlike black tea, green tea is not fermented, allowing the active constituents to remain unaltered in the herb. It is a powerful antioxidant that supports the cardiovascular system, and traditional Chinese medicine has recommended green tea to aid digestion, enhance immunity and improve energy levels.

Lamb Meal - Lamb meal is rich in calcium, and is produced from meat trimmings and the clean parts of the carcass cooked, dried and ground into a fine flour. It does not include the wool, blood, head, hooves and specified risk material such as the spinal cord. Joe & Jack's lamb and rice dry food contains 28% lamb meal.

L-Carnitine - L-Carnitine is produced in small quantities in the body by the liver and testes. It is naturally present in meat, yeasts, egg and milk and increases fat metabolism in the skeletal and cardiac muscle, and may improve endurance and stamina. It is also may be of benefit to the overweight or less active dog since it helps to increase the conversion of fat to energy and helps maintain lean body mass.

Linseed - Linseed is also known as flax. This plant is a good source of dietary fibre, Omega-3 fatty acids and lignans (which have antioxidant properties). Linseed oil contains linoleic acid and alpha linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid used in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and cell membranes.

Maize - See corn.

Meat and animal derivatives - this loose term covers any meat or animal by-product, without specifying what it is - or even what species it comes from. This term can be used to hide unhealthy or undesirable ingredients, and to enable the manufacturer to change the protein source with every batch without changing the label. In short, if you see this term, steer well clear as you have no idea what you are getting!

MSM - The methyl-sulphonyl-methane (MSM) is an all natural, ultra-pure MSM derived from pine bark. MSM is a naturally ocurring form of organic sulphur. Its beneficial properties include the relief of pain and inflammation. It is also thought that MSM may improve mental alertness and relieve stress.

Nucleotides - These natural short-chain proteins (derived from yeast) are able to enhance metabolic function and have particular benefits to the digestive and immune systems. Nucleotides allow optimum levels of nutrients to be absorbed by the body, as well as facilitating a more rapid cell replication in response to an outside challenge.

Oats - Oats are a good source of energy and protein, as well as being rich in fat, minerals and vitamins E and B.

Potato - a healthy carbohydrate source.

Rice - Rice is a very digestible energy source and is often used as the main source of carbohydate in pet foods.  All Joe & Jack's and Joe & Jill's foods contain rice.

Rosemary Extract - natural pet foods are often stabilised naturally using mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E) and rosemary. Rosemary is a natural antioxidant and is used to prevent the oxidisation of the fat components of the diets.

Seaweed - Seaweed, or kelp, is a useful source of natural particularly minerals including sodium, potassium, calcium and iodine. Joe & Jack's fresh chicken and rice dry food contains seaweed.

Soya - soya protein is hard to digest and utilise and not a good quality ingredient for pet foods. It has also been associated with dietary intolerances and allergies.

Sugar Beet Pulp - Beet pulp is a by product of sugar production, and is a good source of both soluble and insoluble fibre. The soluble fibre is a good food source for the friendly bacteria in the large intestine. It also slows the rate of food passage through the gut ensuring a preferential transit time of food, leading to maximum digestion and absorption of nutrients. The insoluble fibre increases peristalsis, helps an animal to feel satisfactorily full and provides a crunchy texture to the kibbles to aid oral hygiene. Fibre is important for maintaining normal gastrointestinal transit time and motility and cats and dogs with stomach upsets can be found eating grass or other vegetation, possibly in the attempt to soothe their gut with increased fibre. A quality fibre source in the correct proportion may help to reduce the incidence of conditions such as diabetes mellitus and obesity. It may also help to prevent constipation and diarrhoea.

Taurine - Taurine is an essential nutrient for cats, and is often added to good quality cat foods. Sugar beet pulp is used in all Joe & Jack's dry foods.

Tocopherols -  Natural pet foods are often preserved naturally using tocopherols (Vitamin E). All dry pet foods require an antioxidant in order to prevent the fat components in the diet from becoming rancid on exposure to air.

Yucca Extract - Yucca has antioxidant properties, and may also help to reduce faecal and body odour. It is found in Joe & Jack's lamb and rice dry food.

Wheat - This is a good source of carbohydrate and protein, but it is one of the main ingredients known to cause dietary intolerances and allergies, so should be avoided when feeding pets with these problems.